Trump Confirms 155% Tariff On Chinese Imports From November 1

By The Eastern Times Bureau
Date: October 22, 2025

📰 News in Short

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that Washington will impose a 155% tariff on all Chinese goods imported into the United States starting November 1, 2025. The move marks a sharp escalation in U.S.–China trade tensions and is part of Trump’s broader tariff-based economic policy, which he says safeguards “national security and fair trade.”

📰 News in Detail

Washington, D.C.:
In a significant policy announcement, President Donald Trump said the United States will go ahead with its plan to levy a 155 per cent tariff on Chinese imports beginning November 1, despite his stated wish to maintain “friendly relations” with Beijing.

Responding to a question from ANI, Trump said,

“Right now, as of November 1st, China will have about 155 per cent tariffs put on it. I don’t think it’s sustainable for them.”

He added that while he personally wished to keep cordial relations, the U.S. had endured decades of “unfair and one-sided” trade practices from China that demanded corrective action.

“I want to be nice to China,” Trump remarked. “But China has been very rough with us over the years because we had presidents that weren’t smart from a business standpoint. They allowed China and every other country to take advantage of us.”

Tariffs as a Tool for ‘National Security’

The President referenced earlier trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, noting that those agreements were also achieved through strategic tariff use.

“It’s about national security. I made a deal with the EU, with Japan, with South Korea — great deals. We’re getting hundreds of billions, even trillions, of dollars paid into the United States. We’ll start paying off debt,” he said.

Trump defended tariffs as a weapon of economic sovereignty, suggesting they serve both fiscal and geopolitical purposes.

Targeting China’s Ties with Russia

The latest tariff announcement comes amid growing U.S. pressure on nations indirectly aiding Russia’s war effort in Ukraine through energy trade.
While earlier “secondary tariffs” targeted India, which faced a 50 per cent duty on Russian oil-related imports, the new policy marks a major escalation against China, the world’s largest buyer of Russian crude.

Analysts view this move as an attempt to deter Beijing from continuing energy transactions that help sustain Moscow’s revenue streams.

Trump’s Truth Social Announcement

Earlier this week, Trump also posted on Truth Social, declaring an additional 100% tariff “over and above any existing tariff” on Chinese products, effective the same date.
He linked the decision to what he described as “China’s extraordinarily aggressive trade stance” and a threatening diplomatic letter allegedly circulated by Beijing to other nations.

“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position… starting November 1, 2025, the U.S. will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any tariff they are currently paying,” Trump’s post read.

He further announced that export controls will be placed on “all critical software” from the same day, restricting the flow of advanced technology components to China.

China’s Reaction Awaited

Beijing has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s latest comments, though Chinese officials have in the past condemned Washington’s tariff policies as “economic coercion” and “a violation of WTO principles.”

Economists warn that the 155% levy could disrupt global supply chains, drive up consumer prices in the U.S., and further strain diplomatic relations between the world’s two largest economies.

Outlook

With less than two weeks until the tariff takes effect, markets are bracing for volatility. Global traders are watching for retaliatory measures from Beijing, which could include restrictions on rare earth exports or technology components.

Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy, justified under the banner of “economic nationalism”, signals a deepening divide between Washington and Beijing — and a return to the high-stakes trade battles that once defined his presidency.

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